10/22/2008

Astros Call on Express Manager Clark

Moore on the move as well 

ROUND ROCK – For the second time in as many seasons, the manager’s office at The Dell Diamond is open.

In a flurry of coaching moves Wednesday, the Houston Astros announced that bench coach Jackie Moore will step down to assume the same position with the Texas Rangers. Ed Romero, who served as Houston’s third base coach in 2008, has been named the team’s new bench coach. Round Rock manager and former Houston Astro Dave Clark will assume Romero’s position as third base coach.

Clark’s replacement for Round Rock, which celebrates its 10th season in 2009, will be determined by Houston at a later date.

“We’re extremely excited for Dave and for Jackie,” said Round Rock founder and CEO Reid Ryan. “Both of them have been excellent players, coaches and managers wherever they have landed and we’re happy that both of them have shared their time and their commitment to the game of baseball with us.”

Moore spent eight seasons with the Express, guiding the team into three championship series, including a Texas League Championship in 2000. When he joined the Astros after the 2007 season, Clark was named as Round Rock’s second manager.

Clark guided Round Rock to a 64-79 finish in his first year as a Triple-A manager.

“He brought a lot of energy to The Dell Diamond and its fans,” said Express president Jay Miller. “You never want to lose a manager like Dave, but we’re happy to see him achieving his goals. Knowing that he’ll be right down the road in Houston makes losing him a little easier to bear.”

The Astros also announced that returning to their field staff from 2008 are hitting coach Sean Berry, pitching coach Dewey Robinson, first base coach Jose Cruz and bullpen coach Mark Bailey.

Cecil Cooper will enter his second full season and his third year overall with a 101-91 record as the Astros skipper. The 2009 season will be his fifth year on the Astros staff, as he served as the club’s bench coach from 2005 until he was named interim manager on August 27, 2007. 

Cooper’s 2008 Astros club finished 86-75.  Romero begins his first season as the club’s bench coach in 2009 and has 17 years of coaching experience, including tenures in the Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres organizations in addition to his season with Houston. He has also managed seven seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Berry will return to the Astros for his fourth season as the club’s hitting coach after being appointed to that role on an interim basis on July 12, 2006. The 2009 season will be Robinson’s 13th year with the Astros and his second as the pitching coach on the Major League level.  Cruz will return for his 13th season as the club’s first base coach and 26th season overall within the organization. Cruz played for the Astros from 1975-87 and had his number 25 retired on October 3, 1992. Bailey will enter his eighth season as the club’s bullpen coach, a position he assumed on May 15, 2002. The 2009 season will be his 11th season as a coach within the Astros organization for the former Astros catcher.

Clark, who spent three seasons as the manager for the Astros Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi, has Major League coaching experience. He spent two seasons on the Pittsburgh Pirates coaching staff, serving as a hitting coach from 2001-2002. 

A former first-round draft pick (11th overall) in the 1983 draft, Clark spent 13 seasons in the Majors, including one with Houston (1998).

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